On Monday, Pfizer announced its clinical trial showing that its COVID vaccine is safe for children ages 5 to 11. Pfizer also said it generates a strong antibody response.

DETROIT – Since first rolling out the COVID-19 vaccine in mid-December, Wayne County has vaccinated 6,500 people in phases 1A and 1B, which includes health care workers and seniors 65 years of age and older. However, there are still 40,000 to vaccinate, including 20,000 teachers and 5,000 law enforcement personnel. READ: Vaccinations: How to find appointments, info on phases“We’re still at the very beginning stages because of just the sheer volume of people that require that vaccine,” said Dr. Mouhanad Hammami, Wayne County chief health strategist. It also depends on if they can get the doses they need from the state, which so far has been difficult. Right now, if I order 5,000 (doses) this week, I wouldn’t know until early next week if I’m getting the full 5,000 or if I’m getting 1,000 only.

DETROIT – What happens if the COVID vaccine is given the go-ahead? Gretchen Whitmer said Thursday that the state is working on a distribution plan that will take effect the minute the vaccines arrive. Roughly 10 million people live in Michigan and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joneigh Khaldun said patience is a necessity. “Michigan will receive about 84,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine if it becomes available next week in that first application,” Khaldun said. “The Modena vaccine is a different vaccine that is just behind the Pfizer vaccine in the approval process.”Michigan is expecting just under 200,000 doses.

DETROIT – The Food and Drug Administration’s Vaccine Advisory Committee will hold a day-long open meeting to discuss whether or not to authorize Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine. Starting at 9 a.m. on Thursday, the FDA will present its review of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine data to its independent panel of outside experts. Other expected points of discussion include the allergic reaction seen in two U.K. health care workers, the safety of mRNA vaccines, distribution plans and how the vaccine’s safety will continue to be monitored after an authorization. Do not expect to see any discussion of authorization of the vaccine for children under 16 or pregnant women. If the advisory committee votes yes, the FDA could give the green light to the Pfizer vaccine within a day or two.

On Monday, Moderna joined Pfizer in submitting its vaccine for an emergency use authorization. But if a vaccine is authorized, will people be willing to get it? “We asked a national sample of older adults, aged 50-60, (about the) future COVID-19 vaccine and what their thoughts were,” U of M Dr. Preeti Malani said. Moderna COVID-19 vaccine moves step closer to public useModerna’s COVID-19 vaccine hit another major milestone, as the company is submitting its application for an emergency use authorization, starting the formal review process and moving a step closer to public use. “This is clearly the most important point prior to making the vaccine broadly available,” Moderna President Dr. Stephen Hoge said.

Once a COVID-19 vaccine is approved, Henry Ford says it is prepared to receive and store the vaccine -- which requires storage at extremely low temperatures. So far, Henry Ford has begun installing 12 freezers: six that can appropriately store the Pfizer vaccine, and six that can appropriately store the Moderna vaccine. Henry Ford hospitals in Wyandotte, Macomb, West Bloomfield and Jackson will each have one of each type of freezer. Pfizer formally requested an emergency use authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine on Nov. 20. Details about where the COVID-19 vaccine will first be shipped to in Michigan are still being finalized.

DETROIT – Dr. Anthony Fauci is warning Americans that there’s been a rise in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases among young adults in certain states as we head into Labor Day weekend. The CEO of Pfizer has addressed how soon a vaccine could become available. Pfizer officials said they might know if the COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective as early as the end of next month -- with a promise that no corners will be cut. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is telling state officials to prepare to distribute a vaccine as soon as the end of next month. The White House Coronavirus Task Force is recommending Missouri to close bars and issue a mask mandate.